First-round pick at this year’s NHL Draft has seven points in two weekend games and leads team in scoring with 8-8-16 totals in 11 games.
It wasn’t all bad news for Montreal hockey fans on the weekend.
In 11 games as a freshman at Michigan, the 18-year-old Hage has 8-8-16 totals and after his seven-point weekend leads his team in scoring. Michigan, ranked fifth in the NCAA, has a 9-2-1 record.
Hage is from Oakville, Ont., but his parents — Alain and Rania — both grew up in Montreal and were huge Canadiens fans. He wore No. 9 as a kid playing youth hockey in the Toronto area in honour of Canadiens legend Maurice (Rocket) Richard. Hage’s father died in a freak swimming-pool accident last year.
After getting drafted by the Canadiens, Hage said he holds himself to a high standard because of the way his father pushed him to always be his best and that he expects a lot out of himself as a result.
“That’s what I still try to do to this day,” Hage added. “When you’re able to look back at certain things you do and say that you controlled what was really in your control — because sometimes you can’t control the result — usually you do well and you’re able to look back at it and not regret anything. So that’s what I try to do.”
Denver saw its record fall to 12-2-0 after beating Boston College in the NCAA championship game last season. Harris scored 14 goals in 42 games last season.
When asked at Canadiens development camp in July what his goals were for this season, Harris said: “Personally, I want to score more goals than I did last season. The individual is good, but I want to win the championship again. The group we had last year was so tight and just everybody bought into the system. It was a challenge, but everybody stuck together and we pulled it off, so I want to go back-to-back.
“Just really focusing on what I need to get done next season and the year after that,” Harris added. “It’s all just preparation to one day, hopefully, play for this (Canadiens) team and make it and earn a spot. That’s something I’m really looking forward to doing and going through that challenge.”
Fowler, selected by the Canadiens in the third round (69th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, saw his record fall to 8-2-0 with a 1.55 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.
On Friday night, Fowler made 28 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season as Boston College beat Northeastern 3-0.